Founders of Mars Hill's SART gets Long Leaf Pine award

8:19 PM,
Nov. 8, 2013

Jim Thomas, second from left, hold his Order of the Long Leaf Pine certificate, accompanied by, from left, Mars Hill University professor of theater arts Neil St. Clair, professor of theater arts emeritus C. Robert Jones and Bill Gregg, professor of theater arts.

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James W. Thomas, the founding artistic director of The Southern Appalachian Repertory Theatre, has received the Order of the Long Leaf Pine award, North Carolina's highest honor for achievement and service.

The award was presented as a part of the 40th anniversary celebration of the formal opening of Mars Hill University's Owen Theatre and of the premiere of C. Robert Jones' musical "Rivals," which Thomas directed in its original production.

In presenting the award on behalf of the governor, Jones, a long-time colleague, called Thomas a visionary. In his 38 years as a professor at the ...